But when the territory is Bowen Court, a century-old bungalow court listed on the National Register of Historic Places, upkeep issues go beyond routine tenant complaints: The city has become a key player in trying to keep the community of 34 courtyard units from reaching a point of no return.

Owner Kostas Fergadis has allowed the historic bungalows to deteriorate for years, said Richard Bruckner, Pasadena’s director of planning and development.

Vegetation is overgrown, repairs that were made “appeared not appropriate to the architecture,” Bruckner said, and relations between Fergadis and some renters are close to breaking point.

“We’re working with the landlord and tenants to mediate a stressful situation that’s been going on at least a year, and probably longer,” Bruckner said. “We actually sat down with the landlord and tried to educate him on what he has … and in fact he has begun to make improvements.”

The city’s goal is not to be punitive, he said, but “to try and achieve progress toward safe and sound housing.”

Fergadis, who bought the property 34 years ago, said he has maintained the collection of 800- to 900-square-foot bungalows “very well,” and has started to make some repairs.

“I started some roofs, and some wood that had to be replaced,” he said, estimating it would cost about $300,000 to do needed repairs. “But the property is maintained very well – it needs work all the time.”

It’s not nearly enough, long-time renter Tim Brick said.

“I’ve been here 22 years and watched the historic character of this wonderful resource degrade, hoping at some point the city would step in and protect it for future generations,” said Brick, executive director of the Arroyo Seco Foundation and chairman of the Metropolitan Water District. “I think it’s reached a point that if something isn’t done to make (Fergadis) preserve it … this charming bungalow court isn’t going to be here 10 years from now.”

Tenants have long complained to the city about serious structural, electrical and plumbing defects, Brick said.

“What we’re saying is (Fergadis) is maintaining unsafe conditions,” Brick said. “It’s a historic structure protected by the city, and the city … hasn’t really dealt with the big issues.”

And now Brick on Friday saw a 25-percent increase on his $950 rent. And so did at least six other residents he said are being targeted as complainers.

The jump will make the modest cottages unaffordable for some, Brick said.

Fergadis said the rents are about $1,000 to $1,300, and the increases are simply to bring “well below market-rate” units up to that level.

Pasadena has no rent control, and Bruckner said privately owned historic landmarks have no special protection beyond building-code enforcement.

Sue Mossman, executive director of Pasadena Heritage – which nominated Bowen Court for National Register listing in the 1980s – said preservationists are concerned.

“There’s demolition by neglect,” Mossman said. “Even at a casual glance you can see there is a lot of maintenance and more major repairs that need to be made. We thought progress was being made in that direction, thanks to some city intervention.”

Mossman said she was surprised that the routine four-yearly city inspections of rental properties hadn’t highlighted health and safety issues earlier, and required repairs critical to maintaining historic buildings.

Bowen Court, designed by noted architects Alfred and Arthur Heineman, is the largest and most intact example of its kind in the country, Mossman said.

“It’s a crying shame things have got this far,” she said.

Fergadis said he is a good steward of Bowen Court, and tenants get a deal on rents.

“I love the property more than they do, that’s what I told the city,” he said.

Bowen Court resident Michael Nagle, whose work on restoring his rented bungalow’s interior was the subject of a recent five-page spread in “American Bungalow” magazine, said he believes Fergadis does love the property, he just “doesn’t want to part with a penny” for repairs.

“I’m seriously worried we’re at the point of no return,” Nagle said. “I’ve lived here 10 years, and I’ve noticed things rapidly deteriorating, especially the roofs and the plumbing.”

Century-old pipes and antiquated electical systems are a health-and-safety worry for everyone, he said.

“It’s got to the point where it will be difficult for one person to bring it back,” said Nagle, a lawyer with the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office. “Bowen Court is one of the most significant properties in Pasadena and that’s the tragedy.”